Others to attend include representatives from the Czech Republic, Kosovo, Moldova, Romania, Slovakia, Brazil, Italy, Ireland, Poland, the Netherlands, Portugal, Hungary, Austria, Slovenia, Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia. Russian leader Vladimir Putin will not attend, the Kremlin said.
What are the funeral plans?
The funeral Mass on Saturday will start at 10am (6pm AEST) and will be held in front of the Basilica in St Peter’s Square. The weather is expected to be sunny, with a high of 23 degrees.
The Mass will be led by the dean of the College of Cardinals, Giovanni Battista Re, who also led the funeral for Pope Benedict XVI in 2023. It will be co-celebrated by the church’s patriarchs, cardinals, archbishops and bishops.
The funeral will begin with a procession of clergy and the Pope’s coffin. After Holy Communion, the final rite of ultimo commendatio will be performed for the Pope, during which his soul will be commended to God, followed by a final farewell, called valedictio.
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The pope’s coffin will then be returned to St Peter’s Basilica one last time before being moved to the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore for burial, the Holy See Press Office said.
When will a new pope be announced?
After the Pope’s funeral, the Vatican will honour nine days of mourning, known as the novemdiales. Cardinal Re will then summon the church’s cardinals to the Vatican for the conclave that will choose the new pope. He is expected to do that 15 to 20 days after the Pope’s death. It is not expected to start before May 6.
The conclave takes place in the Vatican’s Sistine Chapel. There are about 250 cardinals, all of whom can attend the conclave, but only those aged under 80 on the day it starts can take part in the election of the pope.
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There is no clear frontrunner to succeed Francis, although British bookmakers have singled out Luis Antonio Tagle, a reformer from the Philippines, and Pietro Parolin, a compromise choice from Italy, as early favourites.
Reuters, with staff reporters
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